“Patience.”
“I’ve been patient for two whole years. I don’t understand why you’re being so secretive when I’m your so-called muse.”
“It’s for a good reason, believe me.”
The crowd parts like the Red Sea for Moses.
I get past all our family and friends, including but not exclusive to Rai and Kyle—yes, we’re on a first-name basis now, as I’m obviously their favorite future son-in-law and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying—Maya, who’s been apologizing to her sister for the past two years, Nikolai, Uncle Aiden and Aunt Elsa, Grandpa and Nana, and our extended group of friends.
“Are we there yet?” she asks again.
I stop her in front of the statue and remove her blindfold. She blinks against the sudden light, but as she refocuses, her lips part.
The ethereal color of her eyes widens the more she takes in the details. Her gaze turns to the rest of the statues and she cups her mouth with her hands.
I can’t help watching her, falling for every spark in her wildflower eyes all over again. I thought the world was an utterly pointless loop of nothingness but then realized I was empty. I thought I came to peace with that part of myself, but that was until Mia showed up in my life and unlocked a side of myself I didn’t know existed.
She finally faces me, her face flushed and her lips still parted. “These are so…so…beautiful. No, that’s an understatement. I can’t believe you’ve been making these the entire time.”
“You’re the reason this masterpiece exists.” I lower myself to one knee and pull out the ring that I had custom-made from a rare jewel that matches her eye color. “You’re not only my muse, but also the sole reason I create anymore. You don’t complete me, you fill me up with your hope, determination, and constant nagging. But I digress. Only slightly, though.” I let my charming smile show through. “I used to believe I didn’t have a soul, but it turns out, I just needed you to fill it up. Now that I found you, I can’t and won’t live without you. Mia Sokolov, would you marry me?”
Tears shine in her eyes as she gets on her knees in front of me and nods frantically, then signs, “I love you.”
“Is that a yes?” I sign back.
“Yes. A million times yes, Lan.”
I slide the ring on her finger and then kiss her in the middle of cheers, hoots, and camera flashes from everywhere.
As we break apart, I whisper, “I love you, too.”
I know how much she needs to hear that, and while I don’t believe in love as an emotion, I believe in her.
My woman.
My muse.
My forever.
THE END